Joel Pope, a wicket-keeper batsman on the MCC Young Cricketers' books, signed a two-year professional contract with Leicestershire at the end of the 2007 season. He will now compete for a place in the county's team with Paul Nixon. Clive Radley, MCC head coach, says he "has got the best pair of hands I've seen since becoming MCC Head Coach in 1991." Pope, the nephew of Middlesex wicket-keeper Ben Scott, will now winter in Perth, Australia, to continue his development playing grade cricket for Melville CC
Cricinfo staff September 2007